Firsts

We just got back from our long trip to Phoenix and South Carolina.  My house is an absolute disaster, laundry and mess up to my ears, but I wanted to enjoy some coffee and share photos from our trip.  Miriam turns 5 months this weekend and she had MANY firsts over the past 2 weeks. First road trip to Phoenix, first hotel stay, first swim in a pool, first plane rides, first graduation, first outlet shopping trip, and many more!  Turns out Miriam is a traveling champ and was a total dream through the airport, on the plane, and at my mom's house.  She's surprised us with her flexibility, and not surprisingly, baby girl is a total social butterfly / flirt / people watcher / party animal.  She adored the attention everywhere we went.  I think I need to hire people to come over daily to entertain her!

We met my mom in Phoenix and stayed over a few days.  Jason and I got to go out to the Bruce Springsteen concert. It was our first time out since her birth and it was such a great concert. Did some shopping, swimming, & relaxing.  Jason had some work in Scottsdale, so it worked out well for all.

All packed up and ready to go!

Another first: first IKEA trip. Can you see the overwhelmed look in her eyes?  We all feel you , Miriam.   Grandma bought her a new friend too; his name is Biff.

First swim!  She LOVED the pool.  Not surprising that she's a water baby; she screams if we are like 5 minutes late on bath time at night!

We left for South Carolina on December 10. Miriam was a dream in the airport and plane, we had a really positive travel experience.  So thankful that Grandma was with us though! Funny faces on the plane...

We were in South Carolina to watch Uncle Timmy, my youngest brother, graduate from college, but we did a lot of other fun things too...

Meeting my friends from college.  Angileigh & Caroline's sons were  born 1 day apart and are 1 month.  See Miriam wanting to socialize? 

"Over the River & Through the Woods to Grandmother's House we Go".  Riding in the car with her friends Biff & Eleanor.

Taking a walk in Grandma's pram. This is the same pram that Grandma used with  mom.

Hanging out with Grandma.

Kisses!

Napping with Uncle Tim.  I love this picture...

Napping with Grandpa. Also love this one...

Baby Angel...

At Uncle Tim's Graduation. She did AMAZING.  His graduation was at night and it was WAY past her bedtime, but she was loving it.  Barely a peep, watched graduation and looked around at people in the audience.

Trying to get some pictures with mom and grandma.  This was the end of the night and Miriam was finally losing it...so tired!

With our graduate.  So tired she's literally falling asleep in my arms, haha!  When we got to the door I put her coat on and gave her her paci and she was asleep in my arms in about 30 seconds.  Slept all the way to the car and home.

Grandma!

Snapped some pictures for Grandma's Christmas card.

One with Mommy.

Grandma & Grandpa

One with my Uncle Richard & Timmy.  Can you see in her face she's ready for this to be over?

Play time with mommy now...

...

...

Big smiles!  Miriam is SO smiley now. She giggles and smiles at everyone, is super friendly and generally happy.  She will still bring the house down though if she's hungry, tired, or wants her mama. 

We got home last night after a pretty smooth trip. Miriam did have a massive blowout on the flight to Phoenix; she had heard the inside of airplane bathrooms were pretty exciting and it did not disappoint.  Christmas is at home in Flagstaff this year; it is actually the first time Jason and I have spent the holidays at home.  We are looking forward to relaxing and creating some new traditions for Miriam's First Christmas.  I know she will have zero recollection of this Christmas, but it means so much to us to have her and will have some wonderful memories of this time in our family life.  Have a Merry Christmas & safe holiday season.

My First Cereal!

I didn't really have a plan on when to start solids with Miriam. I'd always heard 6 months, but our pediatrician said we could start now, so we thought why not?!  Maybe it will help her feel more full and sleep better (maybe grasping at straw there, but willing to try about anything for more sleep - haha).  We started her on Happy Bellies Organic Oatmeal cereal.  Most of it ended up on her bib, but she was smiling as she ate and seemed pretty content with the few drops that made it to her belly!  We will keep trying every morning and keep easing our way into it.  So far, so good!

Trying it for the first time!

Ok, not too sure what to think about this...

Content:)

I've been packing like a mad woman for a few days in Phoenix and then 10 days in South Carolina.  Tim graduates from college in a couple of weeks and I was determined that Miriam and I would be there to watch him walk across the stage. Packing for a couple of weeks away with a 4 month old is like organizing a military operation (my god, she uses a lot of "stuff" everyday!).  We head out on Wednesday to Phoenix and then on her first flight Sunday.  Think good thoughts for us for a smooth and safe trip; I'll post lots of pictures and updates when we return!

Christmas is Coming!

Putting up the tree with daddy

So excited for my first Christmas!!

Baby Bjorn is yummy...

Nom, Nom, Nom

 

Miriam spent a lot of her first Thanksgiving weekend chomping down on her finger, fingers, fist, toys etc... Nom, Nom, Nom...delicious!

No doubt she's working on some teeth; I'm thinking something will happen on the bottom left in the next few weeks.  As a result she's struggling with napping BIG TIME.  Thank god for the baby swing (my only savior right now) and coffee.  Please send good sleep vibes our way!!  

Updates

Our little angel is growing and changing every day.  She babbles ALL the time, VERY loudly, and has added blowing bubbles and blowing raspberries to her repertoire.  She's discovered her tongue and pulls the funniest faces exploring her mouth.  All this activity creates A LOT of drool.  She's affectionately known around here are our "dribble monster" and plows through burp cloths and bibs like a no other.  Miriam has always been a good night time sleeper and has struggled to nap.  She's now also struggling with her nighttime sleep -- eeek!  It's been pretty rough on both of us, but she's been working so hard on learning to roll and control her head that I'm hoping once she masters these new milestones she will settle out again (please hope for all our sanity that it does happen soon!!).  I love this picture I snapped on my phone early in the morning. Miriam is early to bed and early to rise so we hang out in bed for awhile many mornings while mama catches up to her energy.

 I'm a little behind, but here are a few shots from Miriam's first Halloween!  She honestly didn't last very long and was in and out of the bat costume & ready for sleep in a total of  about 20 minutes, but she sure did look cute for those 20 minutes!

The Wicked Witch and her evil bat

The whole evil family trying to look mean

Now trying with smiles (apparently Miriam saw something far more interesting)

My brother Richard visited over Halloween.  I like to get shots of the special people in Miriam's life meeting her for the first time. Here she is meeting her Uncle Richard:

So happy!

They went on walks together

and they played together a lot at breakfast time.

He also taught her how to send her first text...

...and she gave a tutorial on shoving your whole hand in your mouth.

Shake, Rattle, and (hopefully soon) Roll

Out to Sunday brunch wearing the new sweater Grandma Bailey made her!

Pumpkin Feet

Miriam's Cousin Juliette handed down her adorable pumpkin booties.

They were an instant hit with Mummy & Daddy!

Unfortunately, Miriam had other ideas...

Stretchin' out those toes!

Did everyone have a Happy Halloween?  Miriam's uncle, my brother Richard, came out to visit us; it was a blast!  Miriam enjoyed her first Halloween and loved meeting her Uncle.  I'll post more pictures of his trip soon.  Miriam hopes you all have a wonderful week!